Roller-skate



(No Model.)

GQUBURTON, ROLLER SKATE.

No. 307,840. Patented Nov. 11,1884

"Rh/ENTER v GEORGE D. BURTON, OF NEXV IPSWVIGH, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

-ROL.LER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 307,840, dated November 11, 1884.

Application filed August 17, 1883. (No model.)

.To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. BURTON, of New Ipswich, county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Roller-Skates, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention, relating to roller-skates, is embodied in askate the foot-board of which is pivotally connected with trucks at the forward and rear ends, springs being interposed between the said trucks and foot-board at either side of the pivot, thus giving a yield ing rocking movement to the fo0t board upon the trucks. Each truck consists of a platform having pedestals at either side, provided with guides in which the bearing-boxes for the ends of the axles may slide vertically. The said bearing-boxes have conical surfaces to receive a series of anti-friction balls surrounding the roller-axle.

Figure l is a side elevation of a skate embodying this invention; Figs. 2 and 3, trans verse vertical sections on lines 00 m and y 3 Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a plan view of one of the pedestals for the roller-bearings; Fig. 5, a perspective view of a somewhat different form of pedestal, and Fig. 6 a vertical section thereof.

The foot-board A, of any suitable or usual construction, is connected by hinges or pivots a b with pedestals B 0, near the ends of the said foot-board, the said hinges a I) being so constructed as to permit the foot-board to rock laterally with relation to the said trucks, which have no lateral or rocking movement with relation to the floor. The hinge a is shown as having a stop or shoulder, 2, to limit the rocking movement of the foot-board.

Springs (1 c are interposed between the under side of the foot-board and the platform f, forming the upper portion of the trucks B O, to afford an elastic or yielding resistanccto the lateral or rocking movement of the said i'oot-board, the springs (2 being shown as com posed of rubber, while the springs c are metallic helical openings.

The platformsfhave rigidly connected with them at either side pedestals provided with guides h, (shown in this instance V-shaped,) to receive the bearing-boxes z, (shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as made in two parts,) each having a conical bearing-surface, t" f, for a series of anti-friction balls, 7v, surrounding the axles m of the rollers n, one of which is shown in this instance as used in each truck.

The boxes 6 are preferablyrfree to slide vertically in the guides h, and are provided with springs or cushions 0, (shown as composed of rubber,) interposed between the said bearingboxes and the platformf, and serving to prevent the jar or vibration arising from an uneven floor from being felt by the wearer of the skate.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the boxes 15 are made each of a single piece, and the conical surfaces t" may be finished by a suitable cutting-tool. In this construction the balls are dropped into the box before the axle m is in serted, and the latter, when in place, prevents the balls from escaping from their conical or Vshaped channel. The pedestal 9 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is somewhat different in shape from those shown in the other figures, but the construction and operation are essentially the same.

If desired, the springs or cushions 0 may be omitted and the bearing-boxes i supported directly against the platform f or a rigid block or stop in the pedestal above the said boxes.

I claim- 1. The combination of the foot-board with trucks hinged thereto, each composed of a platform, pedestals rigidly fixed to the said platform, bearing-boxes therein, springs or cushions interposed between the said platform and bearing-boxes, and a roller having its axle journaled in the said boxes, and the springs interposed between the said platform and foot-board at either side of the hinge, substantially as described.

2. The trucks, each composed of a platform, pedestals rigidly fixed thereon and provided with vertical guides, bearing-boxes in the said guides provided with co-operating conical bearing-surfaces,anti-friction balls in the said boxes, and a roller having its axle bearing on the said balls, in combination with a foot-board hinged on the said platforms, and springs interposed between the said platform and foot-board at either side of the hinge, sub stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. D. BU BTON W'itn esses Jos. I. LIVERMORE, W. H. SIcsroN. 

